Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 7
The city’s guards opened the gate for just long enough to allow two chariots with their drivers to leave. The chariots were simple vehicles; two horses pulled each of them. The plan was that the drivers would take their chariots quickly across the whole region to look for Aram’s army. If the chariots went in different directions, they could search across a large part of the country (compare 1 Kings 18:5-6).
However, the drivers soon realised that they did not need to search across the whole country. Near to Aram’s camp, there was evidence of the direction in which Aram’s soldiers had gone. Those soldiers had believed that two strong armies were chasing after them. So, most of Aram’s soldiers left their possessions in the camp. However, some of them managed to take some of their spare clothes and other equipment with them. They dropped these things because such things were too heavy to carry during their rapid escape.
The drivers followed the route that Aram’s soldiers had taken for about 20 miles (30 kilometres). That route went east, to the river Jordan. Aram’s soldiers may have crossed the river there to go to Ramoth-Gilead, which Aram’s kings controlled (1 Kings 22:3). However, the drivers of the chariots did not follow them further. It was clear to the drivers that Aram’s army had escaped in a great hurry. They ran away although nobody was chasing after them (Proverbs 28:1).
So, at last, the people in Samaria could safely leave their city to get food.
Next part: Cheap prices at the market, as God had said (2 Kings 7:16)
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